I saw this printed in a free newspaper called "Today's Local news" which was printed for Thursday 5/10/07. The newspaper I received was the Inland Edition for San Diego.

Get an easy $125

Get something extra from the bank rated #1 in Customer Satisfaction—$125 in your checking account.

Open your Free Checking account in California and deposit a minimum of $500 by August 31, 2007 and receive a $75 bonus. Then receive a $50 bonus when you set up Direct Deposit within 90 days. With Free Checking from Wachovia, there are no monthly service fees, and no minimum balance or direct deposit requirements.

What's not to love?

* Use any ATM in California without paying a Wachovia fee and receive a rebate for ATM fees other banks charge * Free Check Card with Visa® Extras Rewards Program * Free Online Banking with BillPay

Still not convinced?Learn more about the many benefits of banking with Wachovia—the bank rated #1 in customer satisfaction for six straight years by the American Customer Satisfaction Index.3

Apply in one of three easy ways.Be sure to mention the special offer code: PAYP.

I got both $75 and $50 credits in the last statement period. Weird thing is that I didn't have any ACH transfers... No... (more)

hapachino (Nov. 04, 2007 @ 8:50p)
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Preview

** DEAL HAS BEEN EXTENDED THRU 8/31/07 **

The fine print for the OP:

1 To be eligible for the offer, the account must be opened in California in good faith between 03/27/07 and 06/24/07 with a minimum opening deposit of $100 in new funds to Wachovia. Receive $75 for depositing $500 or more in new funds and an additional $50 for establishing direct deposit within 90 days of account opening. Account must remain in good standing to remain eligible for the offer. Offer expires June 24, 2007. New checking customers only. Limit one bonus offer per household. Not valid with any other offers. The credit in your account will appear within 150 days of the Offer Expiration. The value of this bonus will be reported to the IRS, and the recipient is responsible for any federal, state or local taxes on this item. Accounts subject to approval. Offer available only in California.

2 No Wachovia fee for transactions at other banks' ATMs and a rebate up to $6 per month on fees that other banks may charge.

3 Rating based on 4th quarter 2006 American Customer Satisfaction IndexTM results of the largest U.S. retail banks.

If you read that thread, you would notice that many many banks charge this. And some more like $10. I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure Express Web Connect would be free. I have a Crown account so I can't really tell.

charliek

Senior Member

posted: May. 11, 2007 @ 6:28p

Too bad this is for new checking account customers only. Makes me regret getting in on their previous $50 free checking promo now.

World Savings has merged with Wachovia. If you can wait until later this year, World Savings branches will convert to Wachovia. There are a bunch of these in Northern California. Until then, using a World Savings ATM for withdrawals with a Wachovia ATM card doesn't carry any additional fees. Linky

Markfaafp

Senior Member - 1K

posted: May. 13, 2007 @ 9:40p

too bad none in Missouri.

kobugiman

New Member

posted: May. 13, 2007 @ 10:28p

anyone know how long they will take you credit you the $125?

also, do you have to keep the checking open for a certain amount of time after the credit?

Mikul

Senior Member - 1K

posted: May. 13, 2007 @ 10:32p

kobugiman said: anyone know how long they will take you credit you the $125?

The credit in your account will appear within 150 days of the Offer Expiration.

kaneohe

Senior Member

posted: May. 15, 2007 @ 11:56p

burgerwars said: World Savings has merged with Wachovia. If you can wait until later this year, World Savings branches will convert to Wachovia. There are a bunch of these in Northern California. Until then, using a World Savings ATM for withdrawals with a Wachovia ATM card doesn't carry any additional fees. Linky

Right now in N.CA my local World Savings branch is pushing a similar free checking account in celebration of the coming Wachovia conversion (no $125 bonus tho). Does anyone in S. CA know if that happened too before the $125 bonus appeared? Trying to decide if I can just wait for the $125 bonus to migrate up north?

NachA

Ancient Member

posted: May. 16, 2007 @ 1:26a

just opened up an account. pretty quick and painless. I'll probably only go for the $75 offer as I can't do a direct deposit with paypal.

PolarDude

Senior Member - 1K

posted: May. 16, 2007 @ 1:30a

Big question -- Do they pull a hard inquiry? Do they have biz accounts?

charliek

Senior Member

posted: May. 16, 2007 @ 1:56a

PolarDude said: Big question -- Do they pull a hard inquiry? Do they have biz accounts?They pulled a hard inquiry on my TU when I applied for the $50 promo Free Checking. Some people have said that they've called shortly after applying for the checking account and asked to use the credit report pulled for a Wachovia visa application (w/6-month 0% BT). Figure if they're gonna pull a hard one, might as well get your bang for the buck for it.

don't know if the referral is too much hassel to use link? otherwise I'd like to get one if someone is kind enough.

cardinalandgoldfan

Ancient Member

posted: May. 18, 2007 @ 1:18a

The good standing requirement and good faith requirements only refers to no overdrafts, etc. right? It doesn't mean that you'll have to keep the acct open longer than the 150 days right?

vpetera

Member

posted: May. 22, 2007 @ 1:38a

How can you mention the code "PAYP" when you apply online? There is no place to enter comments or that code.

gobbled

New Member

posted: May. 25, 2007 @ 3:43p

Applied over the phone.

Also talked CSR into sending me first box of checks free.

Thanks

Mikul

Senior Member - 1K

posted: May. 26, 2007 @ 3:16a

gobbled said: Applied over the phone.

Also talked CSR into sending me first box of checks free.

Thanks

Lucky! When I called in today, they wouldn't give me any free checks.

zysunny

Senior Member

posted: May. 26, 2007 @ 4:52p

Applied by phone a few days ago, got the rounting number via security message. But do not know how to make a initial deposit.

I know I can fund the account by ACH push from the online savings. However, will the small trial deposits ruin the requirement of $100 minimum opening deposit?

Xeon852

Senior Member - 1K

posted: May. 26, 2007 @ 5:25p

zysunny said: Applied by phone a few days ago, got the rounting number via security message. But do not know how to make a initial deposit.

I know I can fund the account by ACH push from the online savings. However, will the small trial deposits ruin the requirement of $100 minimum opening deposit?You can just mail them a check if you dont mind wasting the 41c postage. Should be on their website somewhere (I opened my accounts this way).

burgerwars

just a salad for me

posted: May. 26, 2007 @ 6:55p

charliek said: PolarDude said: Big question -- Do they pull a hard inquiry? Do they have biz accounts?They pulled a hard inquiry on my TU when I applied for the $50 promo Free Checking. Some people have said that they've called shortly after applying for the checking account and asked to use the credit report pulled for a Wachovia visa application (w/6-month 0% BT). Figure if they're gonna pull a hard one, might as well get your bang for the buck for it.

I opened a free checking online earlier this year, when they had a $50 promo. I was not a customer, and they did pull hard for the checking account (Trans Union). After applying online, a couple of days later they did phone and asked me to fax them my ID, which I did. They also sent me a Visa credit card ($6,500 limit) at the same time, even though I didn't apply for one. Why they did that, I don't know, but I kept the card and have used it a few times.

FatFreddie

Senior Member - 2K

posted: Jun. 23, 2007 @ 7:52a

Received both $50 and $75 bonuses yesterday. Opened & funded account on 5/17.

Since it's Sunday and the last day for the promo, I'm not sure I will get the $125 as I can't fund it today. I'll fund it sometime in the next 14 days or so. I'm hoping since the account was opened today, I will get the $75+$50.

Also wondering if the trial deposits (for ACH) will screw up the initial deposit. Anybody have an experience confirming this either way?

Also picked up their CC while I was at it. Don't plan to use it.

Edit: They wouldn't give me any free checks, 50 for 8 bucks, 200 for 20 or something. Also the reason I'm not able to fund the account online is because I opened it over the phone. I recommend anybody wanting to fund it online open the account online. I see no way to add non-wachovia accounts to their transfer area of online banking. Called their CS, they couldn't help me with that either.

-kg

zysunny

Senior Member

posted: Jun. 25, 2007 @ 12:28a

Got the $125 bonus too. Thanks OP!

I made the intial deposit by ACH from Online savings. It seems the 2 small trial deposits also do NOT hurt.

bzsmile

Member

posted: Jun. 25, 2007 @ 12:52p

Same here, I wasn't able to fund it online/over the phone. I didn't dare to link from another account due to the trial deposit issue. Finally I sent a check of $500 over, which took about 10 business days to show up.

kgorilla said: Just pulled the trigger on this.

Since it's Sunday and the last day for the promo, I'm not sure I will get the $125 as I can't fund it today. I'll fund it sometime in the next 14 days or so. I'm hoping since the account was opened today, I will get the $75+$50.

Also wondering if the trial deposits (for ACH) will screw up the initial deposit. Anybody have an experience confirming this either way?

Also picked up their CC while I was at it. Don't plan to use it.

Edit: They wouldn't give me any free checks, 50 for 8 bucks, 200 for 20 or something. Also the reason I'm not able to fund the account online is because I opened it over the phone. I recommend anybody wanting to fund it online open the account online. I see no way to add non-wachovia accounts to their transfer area of online banking. Called their CS, they couldn't help me with that either.

-kg

klep

Senior Member

posted: Jun. 25, 2007 @ 1:52p

Anybody see a restriction on the direct deposit amount anywhere? I was planning on doing $50 from ING once a month since the fine print only seems to say "direct deposit"

fallenangel99

Shopaholic Member

posted: Jun. 27, 2007 @ 1:14p

This is still going on in NJ, and even better, you get a $100 Visa gift card on the SPOT. you can also get $25 if you refer a friend (friend gets $25 as well).

There are no restrictions as far as I know in regards to direct deposit, minimum balance, etc.

wesleman

Senior Member

posted: Jul. 2, 2007 @ 7:18p

As reported by the Bank Deals guy, this offer has been extended to 8/31/07.

Josephinec01

Member

posted: Jul. 4, 2007 @ 7:03p

For the people that received the $125 bonus, how do you apply? online, at the branch or by phone?

Thanks.

yayatester

New Member

posted: Jul. 9, 2007 @ 1:54a

Looks like the $125 promo has been extended until August 31, 2007 now, so the deal isn't dead anymore. It's alive and kicking! I'm going to open one up now, thanks OP.

FatFreddie

Senior Member - 2K

posted: Jul. 11, 2007 @ 9:23a

Josephinec01 said: For the people that received the $125 bonus, how do you apply? online, at the branch or by phone? Thanks.I applied online. Any of the 3 methods should work though.

Skipping 26 Messages...

hapachino

Greedy Member

posted: Nov. 4, 2007 @ 8:50p

I got both $75 and $50 credits in the last statement period. Weird thing is that I didn't have any ACH transfers... Not complaining though

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